Present: about 50 members
§ 1 Opening of the meeting
Stephan James, Chair of the congregation, welcomed everyone and prayed a prayer. The meeting was declared open.
§ 2 Election of secretary
Mats Engen was elected secretary of the meeting.
§ 3 Election of verifiers
Kim Lillskog and Anita Isaksson were elected to verify the minutes.
§ 4 Agenda
The agenda was approved and no other questions were announced.
§ 5 Decision to call Pastor Ivani Ahlberg for the Portuguese fellowship
Senior pastor Ulla Marie Gunner presented Pastor Ivani Ahlberg, who is in charge of project IG3. This project wants to reach out to Portuguese/Spanish speaking people in Stockholm. The group now has worship services in Portuguese in Immanuel Church every Sunday. Those attending IG3 are mainly educated young adults and families with children who have moved to Sweden for their work, often with the idea of staying permanently.
At present the Uniting Church has no active church ministry in the Stockholm region directed at Portuguese or Spanish speakers.
The congregation decided to call Pastor Ivani Ahlberg to the Portuguese/Spanish fellowship at 50% for one year.
The decision was unanimous.
§ 6 Fellowship day for the Councils and the Board
Stephen James reported from the Fellowship day which took place on 10 November 2018. Topics that were discussed were digitalization, and the fact that the church is losing young adults.
More information about the Fellowship day can be found on the website at Hemma här/ Extra info för församlingen. Steven stressed that there is a great need of more translators.
§ 7 New website
Senior pastor Ulla Marie Gunner informed that work on a new website is in progress. Hanna Peterson is the project leader. A link to the prototype of the new website will be available on the website on 14 or 15 January.
§ 8 Information about staff
Kristina Gustafsson, chair of the Personnel sub-committee, informed about the recruitment of a communicator and graphical designer to replace Eva Ottosson, who will retire on 28 February 2019. They are now in the final stage of the recruitment process.
In the recruitment of an IT coordinator after Håkan Sjögren they are in the second interview round. Two candidates remain.
Lead pastor for the Swedish fellowship: the position was advertised in spring 2018 and three persons applied. The committee has chosen not to proceed with any of the candidates and the process is temporarily suspended.
Pastor Ulla Marie Gunner and Pastor Anna Berndes are heading the Swedish ministry for the time being.
For Melindie Pretorius, Music director for the International fellowship, work permit has been refused by Migrationsverket. We are working on how to move forwards. For the time being volonteers cover up the vacancy.
§ 9 Information from the Uniting Church
Senior pastor Ulla Marie Gunner reported from the Winter conference in Gothenburg where 10 staff members from Immanuel Church participated. Important issues that were discussed at the conference were International mission, Migration, the Climate and how to create faith.
§10 Any other business
There were no other questions
§10 Conclusion
The Chair Stephen James declared the meeting closed, after a prayer by Ulla Marie Gunner.
Secretary: Mats Engen
Minutes approved by: Stephen James (Chair), Kim Lillskog, Anita Isaksson